Jim Knight Funeral

I would guess that I first met Jim on the first Sunday in April, 2019. Of course, I met so many other people that day. But I do remember the first time that I realized who Jim was. It was later that month. Jim was walking around the halls of the family life center as he did nearly every week day. I poked my head into the office and asked Reneta about the identity of this walking warrior with the Korean War Veteran hat. As he finished his walk, we greeted one another and shook hands. Seeing Jim in the halls became a regular event. Nearly every weekday he would be on his rounds - seven laps if I remember right. He’d often stop by my office and say “Good morning pastor.” We’d catch up briefly. Sometimes he’d tell me what he was reading in Scripture. Sometimes he’d share what he was reading to Anabel. Occasionally he’d have a question or he’d quote a verse. Our conversations were brief, but so encouraging. Every now and then his visits would be accompanied by an envelope with cash for me to give to a specific person in need.

When COVID came, the technical hurdles of virtual church frustrated him. After just a few weeks, he practically begged to come to church. On the first Sunday that we were back in the sanctuary, Jim read scripture. There were only 10 of us in the room, because that’s all that Montgomery County would allow. I made sure that Jim could be one of them.

As things opened up more and more, I would get to see Jim and Anabel more - midweek prayer meetings, Sunday morning services, Men’s breakfasts, Community Group, midday Bible studies. If he could make it, he would come.

Over the course of the last seven years of knowing Jim, I’ve learned a few things about him.

He loved Anabel

At various times, whether she was with him or not, when we would take prayer requests, Jim would ask that God would enable him to love Anabel the way that Christ loved the church. He wanted to the strength to love her in all the ways that she needed to be loved. Often this love was manifested in the house work, cooking, cleaning, threading sewing machines, shopping, and more. Anabel, I believe that right after loving Jesus, he loved you greatly. It was heard in his words, seen in his actions, and proclaimed from his life.

He loved his family

From time to time, Jim would share stories about going hunting or about the latest accomplishments that you all would have. Whether in the military or not, Jim was proud of you. At his age, he lost track of how many great and great-great grandkids he had, but know that he loved you. He delighted in the family with which God had blessed him. He seemed to take the challenges that you all faced in stride - grieving losses, celebrating victories, praying faithfully.

Susie, Jamie, Carl, Matt, Andrea, and Bill - it’s clear that you loved him too! I must say, it has been a joy and a privilege to see the ways that you have served and honored your parents. Your sacrifice of energy, time, sleep, and more is a beautiful testimony of your love. While there will be times of sorrow and mourning, there will be great decisions and even sacrifices ahead, you have honored your dad and father-in law well. You have done well. As you grieve and are renewed, remember, we all do not grieve as those who have no hope.

He loved his life

Now, for those who know his story, you may think this might be odd. His childhood was less than ideal. In many ways, losing his mom at an early age and not being loved or accepted by his step-mom was a great source of pain. And yet, in many ways, God used that to shape him. Some of those early years drove him to the military. His time in the service caused him to meet Anabel on that bus near St. Louis. His military service provided him the basic knowledge and expertise that led him to a career in the nuclear industry. He was proud of his service in Korea for our nation and wore his Korean War hat daily. While he worked hard for the education and certifications, he seemed grateful for his time at Detroit Edison and then later at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and SAIC.

Of all of the people and places that God brought him…

He loved Jesus and His Word

most.

As many of you know, Jim had this amazing mind to memorize and quote large amounts of scripture. Every sermon brought a passage to mind - he would often tell me on the way out of the sanctuary. Many community group discussions reminded him of some passage that he’d memorized years ago - and so he would quote it.

Even as his body was wearing out, he would quote the passage that Pete read. In fact, just a few weeks ago, after one of his medical scares, Jim was sitting in his chair with his bible opened, trying to find that passage. Because of Jim’s love for Jesus and His Word, he had a great hope and confidence in the resurrection. He looked forward to the day when he would lay aside this earthly tent and take up residence in a building that “is not made with hands.”

Jim was not an escapist. He didn’t look forward to the removal of this earthly tent just so he could get away. He looked forward to that day because he knew that he would be with his Savior and Creator.

But Jim was not selfish with this. He knew that the message of the gospel was good news for everyone. I believe if he could stand here today, he would want you to know that it’s good news for you too.

Jim’s love for Jesus and His Word translated into a generosity toward missions and those in need. On more than one occasion, Jim reminded me that Matt’s middle name was in honor of a missionary that they supported years ago.

His love for Jesus and His word was manifested his activity at church - even up until his final weeks, and in Bible Study Fellowship many years ago.

I don’t know exactly what Jim would say to us if he was able to stand before us for a few moments, but I do wonder if he might encourage/challenge us with the continuation of Paul’s tent message.

As Paul was writing to the people in Corinth, he reminded them that because of the hope of the resurrection he, Paul, had been given a ministry of reconciliation. His mission in life was to reconcile people who were far from God - bringing them near. His mission was to help people understand that the guilt or weight of our sin does not have to be held against us - that Jesus paid for our sin so that we might be made right with him.

Paul’s ministry, and I think Jim’s hope, was that all would come to faith in Jesus Christ. That all people, that you, would be made new like Jim was.

The concluding verses of 2 Corinthians 5 contains one of Jim’s other favorite verses. In fact, if you’d like to follow along, open your bible or one of the pew bibles (p. 919) to 2 Corinthians 5.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

While Jim grew up going to church, attending catechism classes, and Sunday School, this concept of being a new creation did not hit him until he and Anabel got married. They were attending a Presbyterian church in the Trenton, MI area. It was there he received Jesus’ forgiveness and salvation. It was there that he became a new creation. It was there that his life’s direction took on a new trajectory - one toward Christ. The old Jim was gone. The new Jim was in Christ. He had been fully reconciled to God. He became an ambassador for Christ. He wanted his children to know this Jesus. He wanted his grandchildren to become new creations in Christ. He wanted his coworkers to know the freedom that comes from forgiveness. I believe he wants you to know that new life, new freedom in Christ as well.

Jim would echo Paul’s plea here, I echo Paul’s plea - “we implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” The good news is that reconciliation happens when you come to Jesus by faith; when you trust in Him as your savior; when you receive His full payment for your sin - because Jesus did it all.

One of Jim’s other favorite verses is the last verse in this chapter. Because, it is in the truths of this verse that the reconciliation happens.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

For our sake - that’s you and me, that’s Jim

He - God

made him - Jesus

to be sin - Jesus took our sin

who knew no sin - Jesus did not know sin because he was not burdened with his own sin. As the writer of Hebrews says: Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

so that in him - that is, in Jesus

we - you and me - those of us who receive His forgiveness and salvation.

might become the righteousness of God - It’s not our righteousness - it’s His - Jesus’ righteousness imputed to us. We are called to live righteous and holy lives. We are called to live rightly before God, but because of Jesus - we gain eternal life by His righteousness. That means that if we gain in through Christ, we can’t lose it through us.

Oh friend, we are here to honor, to celebrate, and to mourn the passing of this great man of God. Jim was far from perfect, but he wasn’t trusting in his own ability to live perfectly. I believe that those who are in Christ will see Jim again one day - in the resurrection. So in many ways, this is sort of a see-you-later. If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, one of the best ways that you can honor Jim’s life is to consider the claims of His Savior. Come to Jesus. Repent. Believe. Be baptized. Be made new. Take on Jesus’ righteousness.

I and many others in this room would be honored to lead you to our Savior - opening His Word - helping you understand His salvation.

After we wrap up here, some of us will head to the cemetery for Jim’s internment. For those who don’t want to go there, you are welcome to head to the Family Life Center for a time of fellowship and remembering. If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, let me encourage you to explore the Jesus that Jim followed in the time of fellowship. What a sweet fellowship that would be for you to join in this new life in Christ.

Let’s pray.